Middlesex Water Company Announces $10.0 Million Upgrade to Water Infrastructure in South Plainfield, NJ

ISELIN, N.J., May 31, 2017 -- Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ:MSEX) has announced that a $10.0 million project to replace aging water infrastructure is set to begin in the Borough of South Plainfield, New Jersey. As part of its 2017 RENEW Program, the Company intends to replace five miles or 27,000 feet of water mains, as well as service lines, valves, fire hydrants and meters. The work is being performed to improve fire flows and overall service quality in the area as the new mains being installed have greater water carrying capacity.

“Through RENEW, one of several projects under our Water for Tomorrow® infrastructure investment campaign, we’re proactively replacing aging water pipe to continually strengthen our water distribution infrastructure for continued service reliability, resiliency and water quality,” said Dennis Doll, Middlesex Water President and Chief Executive Officer. “Addressing infrastructure needs -- on a planned schedule -- reduces the likelihood of future disruptive and costly emergency repairs,” added Doll.

While the overall RENEW work is expected to take 6 months to complete, individual homes should only be affected for a few days as crews replace and install the new mains and meters. While the Company makes every effort to minimize the impact of our work on traffic, residents may observe some traffic disruption as the roadway is trenched to accommodate the construction of a new water main. There will also be excavations when the service lines are connected to the new mains. This will impact traffic flow, but on a smaller scale. Affected customers will receive additional details about the project. Customers affected by RENEW can expect to be without water service for a period of 2-3 hours as their service is transferred from the old main to the new main and while their interior meter is removed. Middlesex Water will always strive to reduce the project impact on residents.

The Company determines which water mains are to be replaced based on historical records, coordination with adjacent infrastructure and analyses which take into consideration pipe information, asset condition assessment and other relevant operational and situational data. Main installation will conclude with compaction and temporary pavement restoration followed by final pavement restoration after the area has settled.

The program may require that water personnel enter customers’ homes to remove their internal meters. Customers are strongly reminded to ask for credentials from utility personnel prior to allowing them entry and, for added security, should contact Middlesex Water Company at 800-549-3802 to verify the authenticity of the utility representative at their door. Customers affected by the RENEW Program will receive further notice if access to their home is required.